Spirituality Commission
Ten Things the Spirituality Commission Chair can promote on all Levels of Council.
1. Pray, Pray, Pray. Begin each day with the Morning offering including the current intentions of the Holy Father. Attend daily Mass. Pray the Rosary for Marriage, Life and Religious Liberty. If you are a woman of prayer, you will find the strength you need to accomplish the work you have been given and will know that you are doing the work you have been called by God to do.
2. Set goals for the Church Committee. Plan special prayer services for each meeting. Use women as liturgical ministers for Masses held on meeting days. Plan a retreat during the Council Year. Plan a pilgrimage during the Council year. During Lent offer to lead the Stations of the Cross. Plan a special time for Eucharistic Adoration. Organize ways to celebrate special times of prayer such as Week of Christian Unity and Fortnight for Freedom.
3. Become familiar with the Liturgy of the Hours. Utilize this prayer given to us by the Church to stay “in tune” with the whole Church. Information can be found on the USCCB web site, www.usccb.org
4. Pray for an increase of vocations. Also remember in prayer seminarians, deacons, priests, bishops and religious sisters. Plan a special project to honor religious men and women in your parishes and at your Diocesan conventions. Be knowledgeable about Diocesan vocation programs and offer support whenever possible.
5. Religious Articles Sale. Organize and sponsor a Religious Articles Sale in your parish or diocese. Articles can be purchased by mail order catalogues or through CRS Fair Trade. This helps make easy availability.
6. Offer Education on the Social Justice Teaching of the church and how to correlate it with everyday life. NCCW has passed several resolutions related to Social Justice Teaching.
7. Use Social Media access to learn about the work of other religious based organizations and join them in their efforts and prayers. Justice for Immigrants, Religious Alliance against Pornography, Catholic Charities, Bread for the World, CRS and Cross Catholic are a few that NCCW partners with in prayer and support.
8. Share Information. Disseminate information of a spiritual nature through all levels of council. Form an email prayer chain for your members. Share Catholic messages in your bulletin, newsletters, face book postings, and the Catholic Diocesan paper. Ask for local Radio time to speak about a special religious season or program.
9. Learn about the Spiritual Adoption Program and initiate in your parish. Say this prayer every day for nine months to save a baby’s life. “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of the unborn baby that I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion.” Prayer of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
10. Initiate Mary’s Mantle, a parish ministry of prayer and spiritual support for Brides. Throughout her engagement and preparation time and following her into marriage, the Bride will be “blanketed” with many prayers and acts of kindness. To find the information, click on the link: www.nccw.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Mary_Mantle_Program_-Updated-2018.pdf
Ten Things the Spirituality Commission Chair can promote on all Levels of Council.
1. Pray, Pray, Pray. Begin each day with the Morning offering including the current intentions of the Holy Father. Attend daily Mass. Pray the Rosary for Marriage, Life and Religious Liberty. If you are a woman of prayer, you will find the strength you need to accomplish the work you have been given and will know that you are doing the work you have been called by God to do.
2. Set goals for the Church Committee. Plan special prayer services for each meeting. Use women as liturgical ministers for Masses held on meeting days. Plan a retreat during the Council Year. Plan a pilgrimage during the Council year. During Lent offer to lead the Stations of the Cross. Plan a special time for Eucharistic Adoration. Organize ways to celebrate special times of prayer such as Week of Christian Unity and Fortnight for Freedom.
3. Become familiar with the Liturgy of the Hours. Utilize this prayer given to us by the Church to stay “in tune” with the whole Church. Information can be found on the USCCB web site, www.usccb.org
4. Pray for an increase of vocations. Also remember in prayer seminarians, deacons, priests, bishops and religious sisters. Plan a special project to honor religious men and women in your parishes and at your Diocesan conventions. Be knowledgeable about Diocesan vocation programs and offer support whenever possible.
5. Religious Articles Sale. Organize and sponsor a Religious Articles Sale in your parish or diocese. Articles can be purchased by mail order catalogues or through CRS Fair Trade. This helps make easy availability.
6. Offer Education on the Social Justice Teaching of the church and how to correlate it with everyday life. NCCW has passed several resolutions related to Social Justice Teaching.
7. Use Social Media access to learn about the work of other religious based organizations and join them in their efforts and prayers. Justice for Immigrants, Religious Alliance against Pornography, Catholic Charities, Bread for the World, CRS and Cross Catholic are a few that NCCW partners with in prayer and support.
8. Share Information. Disseminate information of a spiritual nature through all levels of council. Form an email prayer chain for your members. Share Catholic messages in your bulletin, newsletters, face book postings, and the Catholic Diocesan paper. Ask for local Radio time to speak about a special religious season or program.
9. Learn about the Spiritual Adoption Program and initiate in your parish. Say this prayer every day for nine months to save a baby’s life. “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of the unborn baby that I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion.” Prayer of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
10. Initiate Mary’s Mantle, a parish ministry of prayer and spiritual support for Brides. Throughout her engagement and preparation time and following her into marriage, the Bride will be “blanketed” with many prayers and acts of kindness. To find the information, click on the link: www.nccw.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Mary_Mantle_Program_-Updated-2018.pdf
